Wire chain.



- No. 686,465. Patented Nov. l2, l90l.

A. K. LOVELL.

W|RE CHAIN.

(Application filed May 24, 1901-.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT O FICE.

ALBERT K. LOVELL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

WIRE CHAIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 686,465, dated November 12, 1901.

Application filed May 24, 1901. Serial No. 61,767. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

links, alike in form. Each link consists of Be it known that I, ALBERT K. LOVELL, of

the central portion or loop of U form, termi New York, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Wire Chains, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has in View the production from ordinary commercial wire of a chain which is at once cheap, ornamental, and very IO strong in proportion to its weight.

I am aware that many chains have been constructed from sheet metal and from wire, but they have all been lacking in one or more of the characteristics above named. My chain [5 is designed in such manner that while it can be made rapidly and cheaply by machine the full tensile strength of the metal is rendered available in every part of the chain.

nating at its ends in two eyes a, lying parallel with each other, or substantially so, in planes at right angles to that of the middle portion a. The chain is assembled by passing the end of one link through the two eyes of the next link, as shown. Each link is formed by taking a piece of wire or similar metal, preferablyof around cross-section, as shown in Fig. 4, and bending or returning its two ends inward toward each other, as shown in Fig. 5, thus forming the two eyes 0.. Beyond the eyes the extreme ends extend parallel with the body or middle portion for a considerable distance. The two ends are tightly grasped in connection with the middle 01' body portion and each of the My chain is composed of a series of links fzo alike in form, each of U shape, with eyes at the two ends, these eyes being formed by bending or returning the metal upon itself and. twisting the parallel portions together for a considerable distance in such manner 25 that throughout the length of the union both I parts are given a spiral form and these two s iral portions strongly interlocked. This I union of the ends of the wire to the body por- 3 tion of the link lengthwise of the latter in r" 0 the direction in which the strain is received outer ends or loops twisted by suitable means until the ends are entwined" around and firmly united to the body portion, as shown in Fig. 6, care being taken to conduct this twisting operation in such manner that both 7 5 the ends and the body portions to which they are connected are twisted, or, in other words, given a helical form. The fact is to be particularly noted that the ends are not simply twisted around the straight body portion, but that the twist is carried both into the ends and into the body portion, with fizz, and/so that the surfaces or portions bearing which they interlock, so that if these coop- ;f on each other are both curved is of the essence crating parts were separated they would of my invention and clearly distinguishes my present the appearance shown in Fig. 7. It chain from those heretofore in use, in which is this intertwining and interlocking of the 3 5 the ends were simply coiled or hooked around the opposite portion,which remained straight, or practically so. By bending the connected portions and twisting the connected portions together asI do, each portion forming ahelix,

40 I produce a chain which cannot be separated helically twisted ends with the helicallytwisted body portion that distinguishes my chain from those heretofore k-nown. When the parts are thus united, the eyes are adapted to resist without opening strains sufficient to fracture the metal. In this manner the full or disrupted except by a strain sufficient to fracture the metal.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my chain; Fig. 2, a similar view looking in the direc- 45 tion of the arrow in Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a perspective view of one of the links. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are views illustrating the manner in which a link is formed. Fig. 7 is a view showing the curvature of the connected parts, or, in

50 other words, showing them as they would appear if separated from each other.

A A represent the series of U shaped To improve the appearance and prevent cutting or chafing the links, I prefer that the two ends of the wire in each link shall terminate on the inside of the same and that they shall be pressed down thereunder flush with the body portion, as shown.

My chains are adapted for a great variety of purposes, such as truck chains, tracec-hains, hitching-chains for animals, &c.

I am aware that chains have been constructed of wire in a great variety of forms. For va rious purposes wire has been bent upon itself to form an eye or loop, and for various purposes wire strands have been united by pressing them together. I believe myself, however, to be the first to provide a chain of U- shaped links each composed of one piece of wire bent and twisted in the manner herein described.

My specific construction is advantageous, in that it produces a chain of extreme cheapness and of great strengh in proportion to its weight and one which is adapted by its peculiarity of formation of being cheaply man ufactured by machinery.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. A chain composed of wire links, each in one piece of U form in cross-section, with terminal eyes, the ends of the wire being returned upon and intertwined with the body portion, so that both the body and the ends present a helical form at their points of union.

2. The chain-link consisting of a single piece of wire, having its middle portion bent into U form, its ends returned upon and along the body portion to form eyes, the extreme ends and the body portion being interlocked by twisting them together, so that the two present interlocking and helical portions.

3. In a wire chain, a link in one piece having terminal eyes formed by bending or returning the metal upon itself and thence along the body portion, the body portion and the ends being twisted together to produce complementary interlocking curves.

4. The chain-link, consisting of a central portion, the eyes formed by returning the ends upon the body portion, the ends and the body portion being twisted together helically along the sides of the link and the extreme ends being terminated within the link and flush with the body portion, as shown.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand, this 6th day of May, 1901, in the pres* ence of two attesting witnesses.

ALBERT K. LOVELL.

Witnesses:

P. T. DODGE, JOHN F. GEORGE. 

